Led · Series F · Nov 2022

Locus Robotics develops mobile robots and a warehouse execution system designed as a brownfield solution that can be integrated into existing warehouse operations. The company emphasizes easy integration and operational efficiency for retailers and warehouses competing with large-scale automation players. Locus has marked its one-billionth pick and is averaging about three million picks per day across its global operations. The firm positions itself as a flexible alternative to incumbent systems and cites strong demand driven by labor shortages and e-commerce growth. Locus is Massachusetts-based and highlights its ability to improve SLAs and cost-effectiveness for customers. Recent fundraising and board additions signal continued investment to extend its market leadership. Locus Robotics specializes in warehouse and fulfillment robotics, offering a modular solution that doesn't require a ground-up build. The company's approach is compared to Fetch and contrasted with Berkshire Grey's more built-from-scratch systems. Locus has raised multiple rounds, including a $150M Series E seven months ago that made it a unicorn, and a subsequent $50M investment. The latest funding brings total funding to around $300M. CEO Rick Faulk has said the company has no interest in being acquired and intends to operate independently. Management says the new funds will be used to further expand Locus' global operations amid rising volumes and labor shortages. Coverage also notes the company could be an attractive target for logistics firms or retailers competing with Amazon, though leadership prefers independent growth. Locus Robotics offers a modular, flexible automation platform for warehouses, leasing robotic fleets to customers rather than selling fixed installations. The company emphasizes adaptability—its CEO says they can "change the wings on the plane while it’s flying"—so customers avoid bolting equipment to floors. Locus has roughly 4,000 robots deployed across 80 sites, with about 80% of deployments in the U.S. and 20% in Europe. The firm plans to use new funding to expand international operations (including a bigger push into the EU and into APAC), and to invest in R&D, sales and marketing. Current headcount is 165, with plans to add 75 employees over the coming year. Leadership attributes increased interest to a pandemic-driven spike in e-commerce that accelerated demand for warehouse automation. Locus Robotics builds autonomous bin-moving robots used in warehouses and fulfillment centers to accelerate picking and order fulfillment. The company has seen strong customer traction: its robots passed 100 million units picked at a DHL facility, DHL agreed to deploy 1,000 robots in 2020, and UPS announced pilots. Locus plans to expand operations with the launch of a European headquarters to support global customers. Management says the new funding will allow the company to accelerate expansion into global markets and strengthen support of retail, industrial, healthcare, and 3PL businesses. Financially, the company has now raised north of $105 million in total funding. Recent fundraising activity includes a prior $26 million raise in April of last year and the current $40 million Series D. Locus Robotics is a Massachusetts-based, five-year-old company that produces robotic shelving designed to transfer bins inside warehouses. Its multi-bot solution automates material handling and is described as similar in principle to Amazon's Kiva and Fetch. The company has attracted interest from major logistics players such as DHL. This week Locus announced a $26 million Series C led by Zebra Ventures and Scale Venture Partners, bringing total funding to around $66 million. CEO Rick Faulk said demand has massively upticked for the company's flexible automation and that the new funding will enable it to scale worldwide. Founder Bruce E. Welty previously demonstrated the technology publicly in 2017.